Surfing School - Shaping - Shaping Stall

Racks should be placed in a properly lighted and ventilated stall. Some stalls look similar to horse stalls, but a simple stall can be made in a garage by hanging a drop cloth from the ceiling on each side. The problem will be to build a fixture to hold the lighting in place along each side of the stall.

Correct lighting helps the shaper easily identify any dips or uneven lines on his blanks. Side lights should be florescent type, a minimum of six feet long, positioned even with the top of the shaping racks along each side wall. Light sets for longboard shaping should be around ten feet long. Two sets of lights on each side and exactly parallel with the floor are necessary to prevent improper shadow areas appearing on the blank.

To prevent glare, an eight inch wide shelf must be attached to the top of each light assembly. These are normally made of cardboard. One set (there are two lights in a holder) of ceiling lights the same length as side lights, is hung down the center of the stall, about 7 to 8 feet high. Attaching an 8 inch wide piece of cardboard the length of each side concentrates the lighting directly on the blank and helps contours to appear clearly.

Shaping stalls vary in size depending on the individual shaper. Fifteen feet by eight feet is a good size for shaping guns and shorter boards. Eight feet wide gives plenty of room to walk along the board without bumping it, plus allows room for a small tool shelf.

Proper ventilation is necessary for health reasons. Direct drafts must be avoided however, as any air movement will cause dust to blow into eyes and can also give the shaper a chill. Shaping is strenuous work that causes the shaper to sweat. Sweating is also helped along because of the face-mask the shaper must wear.